The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-06
ISLANDS OF THB SEA.
What the Foreign Missions are Ac.
c0mpllshing.

many centuries ago, and Paul, our first
missionary. was swift to "Glorify the
Lord God OF 1sreal in the isles OF the
sea-"
Paul suffered the stigma Of pain In ex.
lie and bore the likeness of Christ in
consequence of his sufferings.
With this sublime example, such noble
and sanity men as Dr.. Livingston, Jud-
son, Heber and others have taken hold
Of the divine command, "Go ye unto all
the ,oorld, and preach the gospel to every crea-
turs," and have entered upon q work
which now circumvents the globe.
1t is our purpose tonight to visit some
Of the "Islands of the Sea" to notice the
changes Christianity has made, and the
victories the spread of the gospel has
won.
The barren Island OF Greenland, with
its uncertain boundaries, was among the
first to hear the voice of the missionary.
Hans Egede, of Norway, struggled brave.
ly with the utterly worthless and bar
barous Esquimaux and his efforts were
crowned with wonderful success.
Coming southwark, the British Isles
England, Scotland and Wales forming
one and Ireland the other-are noted in
pioneer missionary history by the cease.
less labors and grand results of st. Pat
rick and st. Columbo.
Japan, called the great Empire OF Is.
lands" is adorned with Christian tro.
phies. Since the 10th century when
missionary work was begun there, the
strides toward intellectual advancement
and spiritual civilization, cause us to ex.
claim "what hath God wrought"
The thrilling and fascinating history
of the Sandwich Islands is we'll known
to us all. Less than seventy years ago, an
utterly worthless and degraded people,
ruled by an ignorant, sensual and idolo.
trous ling, the sad fate Of Captain Cook,
who visited the islands and was merci.
lessly slain by the natives, is only a
feeble instance of their wickedness. The
voice Of God calling the vilest soul to re.
pentence seemed to arouse these people
long before the gospel was preached to
them. They threw away their idols,
and were hungry for that simple religion
which can and does satisfy humanity ;
which stops that ceaseless craving for
ever. .r, u.
In the beginning of this century the
first messenger bore the glad tidings to
these restless souls, and he was received
with eagerness. Soon q Christian church
was built, ten years later real pente.
costal revival, showing the source of its
power by its long continuance, was felt.
Sorapid was their PROCESS that in twenty.
fi"e years after their reception Of the
faith, this people were acknowledged an
Independent nation by the leading gov.
ernmerts of the world.
The history of the Fiji Islands sur.
passes those of the Sandwich Islands, in,
that the natives were more debased and
harder to conquer. Cannibals ruled by
q religion that taught parents to devoul
their offspring, were changed into quiet
Christian people where, we read, tina,
almost every family have daily worship
and attend religious services regularly
There are also many jealous mission
aries among the natives, and they are
now supporting four newspapers-those
great engines which do 20 much in ad
vancing civilization and the spread O
the Truth.
Declaring the Lords praise in the Is
land" has elevated the South Sea Is
landers from a barbarous and blood
thirsty nation into one Of truth, purit,
and goodness. Once they were cloudet
in obscuritv, to-day, as a result of tn
introduction of Christianity, they hav'
opened their ports to the civilized worlt
and give in exchange for our commcdi
ties precious woods and spices, of ,
priceless value.
Gods faithful workers, with Bible i,
hand, penetrated the Island Of Ceylon
and you know how rapidly they are be
coming veterans of the faith"
From Australia, the largest island il
the world, comes the welcome messag
that over half the population are cor
verted, and now support ten missionar
socities. In Madagascar their king wa
an early convert, and encouraged th
spread Of the gosple, but upon his deaf
his widow opposed the cause with pei
secutions, and by condemning thoussnd
Of Christians to the stake and faggot
compelled the missionaries to abando
their work and fee. Some of the n,
tives however, kept the faith held o
cret services, trusting that God woul
bring light out of darknsss and He di'
for the Queen died, leaving her Christis
SON to reign. He had . amemorial churc
erected to the martyrs. and . publ
burning of the idols worshipped by h
mother and her followers, marked Il
beginning of . new life.
; In the Hebrides group there are sti
. fourteen islands without missionarie
! and seventy thousand natives yet cam
balls, who will remain 90 until some OF
|, goes TO proclaim that "the Lord is King
! These poor creatures are now calling
: Gods laborsrs to settle among thez
1